CHRISTMAS...update!

WOW the past few days have flown by! So much has happened and so much to catch up on, I hardly know where to begin. The few days before Christmas I was busy wrapping and delivering all the Christmas goodies to friends and family. Tyson was the one who delivered the gifts and he was SO happy to go to each door and see the peoples reaction when they opened the door. I could tell that he was really in the spirit of giving, and it was AWESOME!

Christmas eve fell on a Sunday and it couldn't have been a more perfect day. Our Sunday service was beautiful, filled with glorious music, and messages that spoke of service. It was a great way to start of the holiday season. After church we headed down to Cardston to Tyler's sisters house to gather with his family for the evening. We had a wonderful ham dinner with all the fixins. The kids (cousins) had fun playing together and the adults enjoyed visiting and playing cards. It was a great evening! Later we went to my parents house to get the kids settled down for the evening. They were very excited and could hardly go to sleep..well at least Tyson was having a hard time. After the kids were tucked into bed and we were sure they were asleep SANTA came to deliver the presents. It was great to sit and reflect with the glow of the Christmas tree lights. I was just as excited as the kids!

Christmas morning came fast and I couldn't wait for the kids to wake up! They slept in until 8:30! It was so fun to see the excitement in their eyes. Tyson was so captivated by the magic of Santa and all that he brought him. It really was a great Christmas!



Tyler surprised me with a PINK Ipod Nano. I was totally surprised that he bought me it, because for the past 2 years I have asked for one and didn't get one...so the year I don't ask for one I get it. Imagine that!

The rest of the day was spent with family enjoying a wonderful Christmas dinner made by my mom. She is the BEST cook! You couldn't even tell that the chicken we had wasn't turkey! After having full tummies we just hung out and enjoyed each others company, the kids played with their new toys, and everyone was happy.

Here are a few pictures of the kids opening their presents.

Tyson got this bright yellow hummer from Grandpa & Grandma Jensen. He was SO excited. He had to wait 8 hours for the batteries to charge before he could use it though...that took some patience.

Tyler also got a remote control vehicle. His was a black Silverado truck. The boys were in heaven. After they got them all charged up it was time to go in the back yard and give them a try. Tyson caught on quickly and the two of them had a GREAT time!

Here is Tyson opening up his Transformers. He was ONE HAPPY KID!

A Fancy Tie, & A Special Visitor...

For the past week or so I have been trying to teach Tyson the true meaning of Christmas. That it isn't all about Santa and the presents WE get, but that it is about the birth of Jesus and about giving to others. So I decided that he was old enough to think of something that Tyler would like, and then we would go out and buy it. I would let Tyson choose exactly what HE wanted and I wouldn't try to alter his decision any. He was THRILLED. When I first asked him what he wanted to get dad he said, "I think he would like a fancy cowboy hat with lots of bright colors on it." I told him that dad already had a fancy cowboy hat and wondered if there was anything else he might like to get him. He then said, "How about a new house!" A tired to explain to him that we liked our house and that we didn't want to move. I then left the ideas for a day or so and let him think about it. When I asked him again he said, "I want to get dad a fancy tie to wear to meetings." PERFECT idea. So we headed out to Walmart with the goal in mind to find Tyler a fancy tie. I had my mind set that no matter what tie Tyson chose that would be the one that we would buy for him, and even if it was wild (i.e. Scooby Doo, or some crazy Christmas tie) I would have Tyler wear it and be proud of it. So we went to the tie section and I was SO surprised at the tie Tyson chose, it really is nice. I wasn't surprised AT ALL that it was blue, Tyson's favorite color. Here is a picture of the proud boy with his FANCY TIE for DAD! Today was the day to wrap the fancy tie. I let Tyson pick out the wrapping paper and then helped him write his name on the tag. He wasn't as happy to take a picture with the wrapped present though. Now he can hardly wait to go with Tyler to purchase something for me. I truly believe it is about GIVING, and not getting, and that children are never to young to learn this concept. This is turning out to be a wonderful Christmas season!

Also tonight we had a special visitor come to our house. SANTA! Tyson was so excited and couldn't wait to tell Santa what he wanted. A Transformer Cybertron (Whatever that is??) Carson on the other hand wasn't too thrilled about seeing Santa. Santa aka Ryan has come to visit the kids in our ward now for a few years. This year though, Tyson caught on that SANTA was Ryan, but we didn't tell him that it was. I guess because he hang out with Ryan and Heather so often it was easy for Tyson to recognize his voice. None the less Tyson enjoyed his visit and is excited for when the real Santa comes to visit him on Christmas Eve.

A GREAT Article!

I was sent this article via email today. I found it to be a GREAT article. I wanted to share it with those who may read my blog.

A NON-MEMBERS POINT OF VIEW 2006

Paul Allen is the owner of the Seattle Seahawks, the oneswho played the Pittsburgh Steelers for the Super Bowl.He is also the owner of the Portland Trail BlazersNBA basketball team and is co-partner with Bill Gates inMicrosoft. He wrote this editorial in the Santa Clarita,California newspaper.------------------------------------------------------------------

Subject: An editorial on Mormons - Santa Clarita, CA. I have heard and seen enough! I have lived in the West all my life. I have worked around them. They have worked for me and I for them. When I was young, I dated their daughters. When I got married they came to my wedding.Now that I have daughters of my own, some of their boys have dated my daughters. I would be privileged if one of them were to be my son-in-law. I'm talking about theMormons.

They are some of the most honest, hard working people I have ever known.They are spiritual, probably more than most other so-called religious people I have encountered. They study the Bible and teach from it as much as any Christian church ever has. They serve their religion without pay in every conceivable capacity. Not one of their leaders, teachers, counselors, Bishops or music directors receive one dime for the hours of labor they put in. The Mormons have a non-paid ministry - a fact that is not generally known. I have heard many times from the pulpits of others how evil and non-Christian they are and that they will not go to heaven. I decided recently to attend one of their services near my home to see for myself. What a surprise!

What I heard and saw was just the opposite from what the religious ministers of the day were telling me. I found a very simple service with no fanfare. I founda people with a great sense of humor and awell-balanced spiritual side. There was no loudmusic. Just a simple service, with the membersthemselves giving the several short sermons. They urge their youth to be morally clean and live a good life. They teach the gospel of Christ, as they understand it. The name of their church is "TheChurch of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day-Saints. Does that sound like a non-Christian church to you? I asked them many questions about what they teach and why. I got answers that in most cases were from the New Testament. Their ideas and doctrines did not seem too far fetched for my understanding. When I read their "Book of Mormon" I was also very surprised to find just the opposite from what I had been told I would find.

Then I went to another church's pastor to ask him someof the same questions about doctrine. To my surprise,when he found out that I was in some way investigating the Mormons, he became hostile. He referred to them as a non-Christian cult. I received what sounded to me like evil propaganda against those people. He stated bluntly that they were not Christian and that they did not fit into the Christian mold. He also told me that they don't really believe the Bible. He gave me a pile of anti-Mormon literature. He began to rant that the Mormons were not telling me the truth about what they stand for. He didn't want to hear anything good about them.At first I was surprised and then again, I wasn't. I began to wonder. I have never known of a cult that supports the Boy Scouts of America. According to the Boy Scouts, over a third of all the Boy Scout troops in the United States are Mormon. What cult do you know of that has a welfare system second to none in this country? They have farms, canneries and cattle ranches to help take care of the unfortunate ones who might be down and out and in need of a little help.The Mormon church has donated millions to welfare causes around the world without a word of credit.They have donated thousands to help rebuild Baptist churches that were burned a few years ago. They have donated tons of medical supplies to countries ravaged by earthquakes. You never see them on TV begging for money. What cult do you know that in stills in its members to obey the law, pay their taxes, serve in the military if asked and be a good Christian by living high moral standards?Did you know that hundreds of thousands of Mormon youth get up before high school starts in the morning to attend a religious training class? They have basketball and softball leagues and supervised youth dances every month. They are recruited by the FBI,the State Department and every police department in the country, because they are trustworthy. They are taught not to drink nor take drugs. They are in the Secret Service - those who protect the President.They serve in high leadership positions from both parties in Congress and in the US Senate, and have been governors of several states other than Utah.They serve with distinction and honor. If you have Mormons living near, you will probably find them to be your best friends and neighbors. They are Christians who try to live what they preach. They are not perfect and they are the first to admit this. I have known some of them who could not live their religion,just like many of us.The rhetoric which is spread around against them is nothing more than evil propaganda founded in untruths.(Others) had successfully demonized them to the point that the general public has no idea what they actually believe and teach. If you really want to know the truth, go see for yourself. You also will be surprised.When I first moved here some 25 years ago there were five Mormon wards in Santa Clarita. Now there are 15.They must be doing something right.

End of Article.

I have been a Mormon all my life as well as my parents, and their parents, and theirs as well. I have lived in Southern Alberta where there is a large population of Mormons. I haven't really come face to face with any anti-Mormon literature or even people who ridiculed me for being a Mormon. I guess I have been lucky. I liked this article because I really think that it ansers alot of questions people may have. And what is even better is that it was written by someone who wasn't even a member of the Mormon church. It is nice to know that there are people out there who have questions about our religion, and then they go out and get the answers themselve, and go directly to the source who would know the answers. To often we believe what we are told instead of finding out for ourself. So I am proud of Paul Allen for not listening to all the "tales" he may have heard, and by going directly to a Mormon service and getting the answers he was looking for.

All I can say is WELL SAID!

Annual Gingerbread House at the Pilling's

It has become an annual Christmas tradition to make a gingerbread house. Tonight was the night! Tyson has been looking at the box for a few days now and begging me to make it. So tonight while our family was all together we assembled a fabulous gingerbread house. Tyson was the "candy man," or so he called himself. And Carson was the candy eater! This little munchkin wouldn't stop eating the candy. Some he liked and others he tried and then spit out. After about 10 minutes he was one sticky mess...and headed for the bathtub. Tyson took great pride in putting his gingerbread house together. He told mom where he wanted the "glue" (icing) and then he would decorate that area. Check out this video of him assembling his masterpiece.




*Dad helping Carson decorate a
gingerbread tree.

*Carson concentrating on


where he is going to place


his next candy.

*Tyson the master builder
assembling his master piece.

THE END RESULT! Isn't it BEAUTIFUL!

It most definitely is a wonderful time of year!

Pilling Christmas Card - The Parents!

Like I mentioned in a previous post, I have been having a terrible time getting my kids to co-operate with me to take a few pictures. And it has been just as hard to get Tyler home with us at a decent time to take a family picture. So I have reached the deadline and this year the Christmas card will only have the kids on it. I am bummed, but what could I do? So for this year here is the card that will be going out.

I think the pictures turned out cute. But the tree became very dismantled as I was giving Carson balls to throw so that he would smile and laugh. The things we do to get our kids to smile.

I have to admit that I haven't wrapped 1 present! Usually by now they would have been wrapped and placed under the tree...but not this year. This is my year of Christmas procrastination. Everything seems to be on the back burner. But tonight I have a new movie to watch, "The Devil Wears Prada," and I am all geared up to wrap! At least that is what my intentions are. Tyler has been gone all week, and I am lonley! The kids are starting to miss him and it is hard to explain to them where he is and when he will be coming home. But I know that he is working hard now so that he can have time off during the holidays. So that will be good to have some time to spend together.

S*A*N*T*A*

Today was Tyson's pre-school Christmas concert. For the past few weeks we have been practising the 2 songs at home. Tyson has quite the little memory and he knew both songs well. I told him that he needed to sing really loud so that I would be able to hear him. Of course I was a proud mother as I saw him standing in the front row singing his little heart out. I was bummed though because it was SO dark int he gym that it was hard to take a decent picture, and the video is dark as well. Tyson is the boy in the front row in the middle.




There are only 11 shopping days left until Christmas. I can't believe it. Part of me is in the Christmas spirit, I have the music playing everyday in hopes I get into it more. I guess I don't really feel like it is Christmas because there are SO many things I haven't done this year that I always do. I haven't gotten our Christmas cards out yet...haven't been able to get a good picture of all of us together. So it just might be a picture of the kids this year. They are getting them taken tomorrow, I hope they co-operate! I also haven't done any baking like I usually do. Also the gingerbread house is still in the box waiting to be decorated. I sure hope it doestn' turn our like the Halloween house we were supposed to do. Now it is hidden in the cupboard in hopes that we get to it next year. I am hoping that next week the Christmas Spirit will fill our home and we will accomplish lots!

Little Shepherd & Trimming the Tree...

On Sunday Tyson had to dress up like a Shepherd for a sharing time in Primary. We practiced all week the 2 lines he needed to learn. They were: "C" is for the Christ Child, and "S" is for the stable where baby Jesus was born. All I can say is THANK GOODNESS for grandmas because I knew that my grandma Heninger had costumes for all the characters in the nativity. I remember as a child having the opportunity to play each part, Mary, a donkey, shepherds, and a wise man. I remember that very vividly putting on the costumes and acting out that most sacred event. Now it was time for Tyson to take part in the nativity. Grandma had the perfect shepherd costume, and Tyson loved getting dressed up and he was proud to say that he was a shepherd. What can I say...I think he make a very CUTE shepherd!

I can hardly believe that it is Christmas time again. I was having deja-vu today as I put up the Christmas tree. It really doesn't seem like a year has gone by...but it has. So much has happened, we have been so blessed, and we have grown so much. It has been a GREAT year. I love trimming the Christmas tree! It has kind of become a family tradition to put it up on the 1st Monday of December for FHE. We get the fireplace going and the Christmas music playing and Tyler starts hauling all the Christmas boxes out from under the stairs. It is a daunting task but he is happy to do it, which I am glad because I really wouldn't have to crawl under there! Tyson was a BIG help but "fluffing" out all the branches on our artificial tree. Tyson had fun this year but putting all the "bells" on the tree. Bells is his word for balls. LOL. It was funny because all the balls were at his level and the top 2/3 of the tree was bare. So when he wasn't looking I moved a few of the balls around to make them better dispersed throughout the tree. Finally after about an hour of fussing the tree was complete and beautiful as ever. I love the glow of the lights and the feeling that the "tree" brings into the house. Tyler did say something kind of funny to me today about the tree, he said " You know it is kind of funny that we bring an outside tree inside, put lights on it, and decorate it." And you know, he is kind of right. Where did the idea of decorating Christmas trees even come from? I am sure thought that it has been done for many, many years. And you know with each year I look forward to it. Tonight after FHE and prayers Tyson asked if he could go lay under the tree for 10 minutes before bed. I wanted to tell him that it was WAY past his bed time, by then it was 8:45, but I let him. I put the timer on for 10 minutes and told him that when it went off it was time for bed. So off he went and got his favorite blanket and went and just layed under the tree. It was the CUTEST thing ever. And sure enough when the timer went off he came right up to bed...and he was sleepy!

Life Is SO GOOD!

I have to thank Heather for this wonderful quote, "When you arise in the morning, think of what a privilege it is to be alive; to breathe, to think, to enjoy, to love. Marcus Aurelius " I always enjoy reading her blog, she is so inspirational and SO positive. She is an example to me in SO many ways. Even though we have never met in person and live about a 1000 miles apart it amazes me that people can still connect and influence each other. Heather thanks to your wonderful idea about putting this quote on your bathroom mirror, I may just have to use this idea for myself!

As I mentioned in my blog yesterday, it was our ward Christmas party and Santa came to visit the kids. Carson wasn't feeling 100% and was quite out of it because of the medicine I gave him. But he enjoyed sitting on Santa's lap. The Christmas season is upon us know and it is my favorite time of year. Today or possibly Monday we will dig out all of our decorations and trim the house with a little Christmas spirit. Then the rest of the month is full with parties, concerts, plays and family gatherings. Not to mention the preparation still left to do at home for family, friends and neighbors. I love this time of year when I can bake up a storm and share the goodies with those I hold dear to me. This year another family and us has decided to "pixie" a family in need. We did this last year and it brought us so much joy to really be in the spirit of giving. This year I hope to involve Tyson more so that he will begin to understand the true meaning of Christmas.

Life truly is blessed. I often take for granted ALL of my many blessings. I have 2 beautiful children who are happy and healthy. A husband to loves me and our kids, and who is a good provider with LOTS of ambition. I have a family who loves me and excepts me for who I am. I have friends and neighbors who go out of their way to help me when it is needed. The list could go on and on and on. Today is a GOOD day...take a minute to think about all you have been given, and then if possible give something back.

It Tastes TERRIFIC!

Tonight was our ward Christmas party. It is an annual tradition for our ward where all the families get dressed up in their Sunday best and we gather together for a nice Christmas dinner and have a program, followed by who else...SANTA. Every year there seems to be more and more people from our congragation who attend the supper which is good, but more people means longer lines to get your food. Of course the kids were starving by 6:30 when the supper was supposed to start. Do church functions ever start on time..I think not. Oh well, it is something I have gotten used to, but it is hard to convince a 4 year old that SOON he will be able to eat. So in the mean time we had to occupy the kids with something to eat. We were located close to the desert table and the kids eagerly snatched up some Rice Krispie treats. Watch the video to see how excited Tyson is to eat one. (This is the first time I have used the video function on my new digital camera so it isn't the best, but you get the idea.)